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Grosgrain Archives

October 5, 2008

To start off, this IS NOT a giveaway. I made this costume for Lily last Halloween and it has much too much sentimental value to part with it. HOWEVER, I do plan on doing another costume giveaway this week. I guess you could say that this is a taste of what is to come. Although, I've been at a loss as to what that first giveaway should be. So I guess my first query is to you, dear reader- what costume would you like to see? Just leave a comment in this post. I will sort through them and try to find one that speaks to me:) I'm so excited to see what you have to say!

At any rate, let me tell you a little bit about this little piece. It was the first non-fruit related costume I had made for Lily. It represented a departure from babyhood for me. I was a little excited about sewing a 'pretty' costume. I have so many things running through my mind about this costume but I guess I'll start with the material. I used a satiny aqua blue material. In hindsight, I wish I had used a real taffeta material in a midnight blue color. But the lining was exactly what I had wanted. It is gold satin with tiny purple and yellow flowers embroidered into the fabric. It would have looked even better offset by blue taffeta but que sera. I used a gold knotted trim at the mid-sleeves, around the collar and the waist.

Last year, Lily's hair was painfully short. I always wanted her to have long hair but it just refuses to grow so I made this cute little wreath of flowers with brown extensions hot glued onto a round wire. Surprisingly it worked like a charm! Looks real.... enough. I also found the star wand for $1 at Michaels Craft store. I painted it gold and added the rickrack and striped ribbons. Lily didn't even mind wearing the fake hair....much.

The cut of the dress begins with an empire waist that billows out underneath. The arms cinch above the elbows then flare out to give the dress a 'wizardy' look. I only wish I had some fake pointy ears to match! The best part about this costume was that it was conducive for cold weather. Last year Lily was easily able to wear a sweater, jeans and sneakers without having a stitch of contemporary clothing peaking out.

Of course, as I had mentioned earlier this is not a giveaway. However, if you like the dress feel free to link:) I like to get the Grosgrain word out whenever possible:)

this dress is sooo cute!! i don't even know what else to say:) i bet lily is going to love all the pictures you took of her when she is older, and she can tell all her friends how you went on adventures to get the perfect shot!

Absolutely gorgeous ensemble. You have such great talent. I can't think of anything to suggest for Halloween. My little girl will just be a month old when Halloween comes, so we're dressing her as a bumblebee (store bought since I'm not crafty with the sewing machine). But I'd like to see something girly - I like the ballerina idea but perhaps you can be inspired by a real ballet for the piece. I'm really into medieval styles - but perhaps the costume you made last year falls very closely into that category. Either way, whatever you make I'm sure will be absolutely gorgeous.

i love making costumes. when i was younger, my mom made me a banana split costume. my two friends and i were all ice cream scoops (with cherry hats) and then we made a cardboard banana. but these are my top 3 suggestions:1. witch (nothing like an awesome witch costume and an apple accessory)2. gypsy3. butterfly/dragon fly

I came across your blog while surfing the blogsphere, and I have to say that I am super impressed by your talent. I've barely started learning to sew, but I already know I could never accomplish half of the things you do! And I particularly love this costume.

frankly I love this one. My girls love dressing up and would love this costume. It love it in this color, a rich green or mauve-pink color (like sleeping beauty pink). I wish I could sew. Maybe I should ask for a sewing machine for my birthday at the end of the month

What a beautiful little dress! Wish I had something like that when I was a little girl. I have a son, so I can't really suggest anything costume-wise for Halloween that's girly. Maybe a Wizard outfit or King Arthur/Robin Hood outfit to go along with the sorceress dress (since it looks very medieval and Maid Marian-ish)?

My mother could sew, but I think I only ever got one costume made for me...Wendy Witch. You make one glorious garment after another for your daughter. I hope she will ALWAYS appreciate your talent,and will perhaps join you in your sewing one day. Lovely post.

I love it... at first I thought it was another giveaway. I had to laugh. my little blond girl would look pretty funny with the brown hair coming off the crown. lol. I am glad you are keeping something for yourself. You work too hard to give everything away. I got Bailey's costume for $11 on amazon. A butterfly. My hubby is in Law school, and we don't have a whole lot to spend. :) It comes today so we'll see if it looks janky. I would love a butterfly for her if you are willing! That's all she wants to be.

Another GORGEOUS creation!! And yes, I can see why you dont want to let that one go!!

Now...what do I think you should make? ALICE IN WONDERLAND!! Why? Because My oldest is being a modern day Mad Hatter (girly dress) and I CAN'T find the perfect Alice costume for my almost 3-year-old!!! Actually maybe not...then I would cry if I didn't win it....lol

A few more ideas for you from my 3 year old herself. When I asked her what she wanted to be for Halloween, she came up with three ideas: a pirate, a fairy, or Santa Clause! (She is obsessed with Santa :-)).

I love all your creations. This is a gorgeous dress and last year my little girl was all princess. However this year it's Super Heros. I'd like to see your take on a Super Heroine costume. Keep sewing, it's inspiring.

Stunning!Absolutely stunning!thankyou so much Kathleen for donating a post to this creation its truly beautifulThe hair extensions make it, ingenius idea

your such an inspiration, I even made my daughter a dress like your Icecream social frock see herehttp://ideyspidey.blogspot.com/2008/09/polka-polka-party-frock.htmlI just loved it so much, doesnt look as good on a toddler hahaha but I couldnt help it I loved it so much

Im in the process of making my son and daughter wizard of Oz costumes (my sons request) he wants to be the scarecrow and insists his lil sister can pull off Dorothy

I like the idea of the kids going as characters from the same book/film etc

cant wait to see your next creation :)

btw still waiting by the mailbox for the pinata giveaway.....im hopeful the postman will find it and deliever it one day!

OMG... my daughter is going nuts over this costume! She loves to dress up in pretty princess type dresses and she just keeps telling me that "Paige habbat" (translation... Paige, have that.) This one is too cute! Once again... adorable. Great work!

girly animal costumes, like a dragon (from the eragon series). My husband and I are going to be Phantom and Christine from Phantom of the Opera, I'm thinking about having my daughter go as the monkey music box. Is there anything she could go as that's more 'girly'? perhaps that can inspire you.

That is so pretty on her. She looks like an angel. I saw something the other day that gave me an idea but I could never do it myself. It was like a ladybug princess out fit. so fariy like just a little cuter. Anyways that is my two bits. But your daughter looks so beautiful!

I am in for Cleopatra for my girl and my husband has always wanted me to make a bagpipe costume for our little one - he would be the Scot in the kilt holding his little bag of wind! I always thought it was funny but haven't figured out how to make it! The kilt is the easy part (and he has the legs for it) but I haven't figured out how to dothe bagpipe baby :)

I used that same pattern for a dress for my daughter when she was in pre-K. It is so beautiful isn't it!!! Yours is really pretty, my daughter picked a cotton fabric out. It was pretty, but not quite as elegant!

I'd love to see your take on Little Bo Peep....my daughter really wants to be that for Halloween and she wants her baby brother to be Little Boy Blue, and Mom and Dad the sheep. Everything out there is too prissy and not farmish enough!

This costume is beautiful!! My little girl loves to be a princess most of the time but is looking for something different for Halloween. She wants to be a pink skeleton or something girlie but scary?? I can't wait for what ever you make I'm sure it will be the best!

So pretty! Can I just tell you - I'm so impressed that your daughter poses as she does. My 3 year old daughter runs the other way so I have to act like we're bug hunting to get her outside to take pics - and she's usually wearing binoculars which has nothing to do w/ her outfit!

Ballerina! And for cold weather! That's what my little girl wants. And I'm going to TRY to make it. Out of fleece, even if it is the weirdest fabric for a tutu ensemble. Your costume, though, is gorgeous and lucky Lily is so beautiful in it.

How about a sandwich. You could use different types of materials to create texture....like fleece for the bread, felt for lettuce, etc. Maybe Molly could coordinate and be a pickle. I love matching my kids/themes. Off course anything girly is cute too....I bet a mermaid would be beautiful. Do you remember seewees as a child? The babies had cute little swim caps over their hair. But it would be tricky if it was cold. Everything you create is beautiful. I can't wait to see what you decide.

i was bummed it wasn't a giveaway... i was out of town last week with no internet connection and i couldn't comment on the adorable red riding hood sweater... i'm bummed... but i;m excited to see what is to come... i check more than once a day, i'm quite obsessed. haha. Anyhow... i'd like to suggest a girl super heor costume, like cat woman, wonder woman, so a made up super hero... but i know whatever you make will blow everyone away! Thanks for sharing your talent!

I love all the clothes you make and the giveaway idea. When I saw this dress, I immediately thought about Princess Lily from the Ridley Scott's movie, Legend.I would love to see a mermaid costume since this is what I wanted to make for my own daughter, Elora. She is also a movie princess: from Willow.Keep your great work!

Flower fairy! I meant to say flower fairy, not fairy princess! I am a little more creative than that, I think--I'd just forgotten what it was I wanted to write by the time I'd got through reading all of your readers' marvelous comments. I also would like to see what you'd do with the bo peep idea.

Make another one, you've done one before and we all like this costume! Although...it would mean putting up pictures of the costume twice. Make a period peice, open a costume book and pick a period you like, I personally love the early 1800s. Make sure that whatever it is, it's warm enough. Open up the dictionary and look at some random nouns for inspiration--maybe an autumn empress?

O how GORGEOUS! Your talent is truly AMAZING, and I just LOVE looking at your pictures! I vote for Alice in Wonderland! My 4 year old daughter is in LOVE with Alice right now! Also maybe a butterfly, or mermaid, or a Disney princess?

beautiful costume, i can see why you would want to keep it! well, for all the mothers of little boys who read your blog and love your clothes, halloween is a great chance to make something that a boy or a girl could wear. i am going to attempt to make my son a garden gnome costume... would love to see your take on that...

Your daughter is so adorable! I am new to your blog and I think it's fantastic. I was wondering were you get your patterns. I don't think I've seen the pattern for this particular dress, but I would LOVE to make one for my daughter!

Hey, I’m a new blogger you can find here at this url:http://www.gypsycostume.org/, and your site is very related to mine; I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to do a blogroll link exchange. Please let me know if you’re interested.